The Downtown Skyline Should be Downtown, Right?
That was my first thought as I toured the wonderful Cityscape exhibit of the Lego skyline that is currently on display at Penn Square Mall. For those not familiar with the project, the exhibit is a fundraiser for Educare in south OKC.
The truth is, parking at Penn Square Mall just to see Cityscape is downright awful. Traffic to get into the mall is downright awful. And unless you’re ready to do some SERIOUS shopping, why would one want to go to Penn Square without wanting to shop between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day?
And yet that’s the gameplan this year. It’s also my understanding that Cityscape didn’t get the space for free – and a glance at the organization’s website http://www.okcityscape.com/ doesn’t show Penn Square or owner Simon Malls as a sponsor.
So my question to downtown property owners is, how badly do you want to attract visitors and regain what’s been lost this past 30 years? Sure Penn Square might be packed with thousands of shoppers. But downtown has a huge workforce, is the city’s cultural and civic heart, and promises up to 20,000 people coming at least once a week for a Thunder game, concert or other special events during the holiday season.
Concerned people won’t come? Tell that to the operators of the Devon Ice Rink. Or maybe the Snowtubing at the Brick (Hey RedHawks, have you ever considered being charitable and letting Cityscape use your special event area in conjunction with the snowtubing?). Better yet, there are several empty storefronts on the Bricktown Canal. What better way to get people to rediscover the canal level and help it reach its ultimate potential?
Sure, there are other candidates: spaces along Automobile Alley, the Great Banking Hall, Leadership Square, Film Row, MidTown…
Think about it downtown. My understanding is some of the suburban folks saw this as a chance to make money on what is truly a good cause. Let all the money go to the kids and enjoy the benefit of attention this attraction can bring to the central city.
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Comments
Steve, when you have time I’d like to see you do a spot on all the empty storefronts on the canal. I think people are concerned and have been for a while that while businesses have opened in Bricktown just as many have closed. Any in-site to what property owners are doing to attract businesses and keep them there would be interesting. Thanks for always doing a great job.
I visited the exhibit recently when I had to decorate a special event there. I thought it was inspiring and well-done.
But I was there on a Tuesday afternoon, and although there were plenty of mall shoppers, no one was touring the display.
Yes, I agree that Cityscape should be Downtown; perhaps at the OKC Museum of Art, the Special Event area at AT&T Bricktown Ballpark, the Great Banking Hall, or a 3000 sq. ft. retail space somewhere. I hope that Educare gets the funding they seek, but I believe this should have been marketed better, and located Downtown.
I think many of you will be excited to see some developments along the Canal in the first 6 months of 2010.
Restaurants, Retail, and a couple of other surprises are coming….and long overdue!
jim, are we finally getting the Planet Hollywood and Hard Rock Cafe that the Canal drivers have been telling the riders about since it opened? Heard them saying it as late as this past summer. LOL
With all due respect, I seriously doubt the canal boat ambassadors are still talking about Hard Rock Cafe and Planet Hollywood. But if you did, you should have reported it to the water taxi office. Personally, I think having the Academy of Contemporary Music is far better than Hard Rock Cafe in Bricktown.
[...] features a bunch of popular Oklahoma City landmarks like the Chesapeake Energy Campus; Bricktown; The Skirvin; The National Memorial and the Devon Tower (still under construction). There are only two days [...]
Steve,
The spaces along the Bricktown Canal would be perfect! How about having it also be open during the Summer months when foot traffic in that area is the most active. I know that I avoid the malls, especially this time of year, but a visit in Bricktown would be something my family would enjoy.